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That Saturday Feeling, Your sideways look at soccer, Episode 18
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Show lessoin your host Nick Britten for your weekly sideways take on all things Soccer - Part of the Global Sports Podcast Network.
This week we discuss whether there is a line in the sand when it comes to what soccer crowds can chant, has Andre Onana made a fool of himself, all your Premier League predictions and more.
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Transcript
Introduction and Overview
00:00:13
officialgspn
Hello, hello, hello, hello, and welcome to That's Saturday Feeling episode 18. eighteen Yes, number one and number eight. Can you believe it? My name is Nick Britton.
00:00:24
officialgspn
I'm joined as always for this sideways look at all things football.
00:00:25
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:00:28
officialgspn
What's been happening in the world of football this week ah by a very happy, summery looking Mr. Ken Davis. How are you doing, Kenny?
00:00:35
Ken Davies
I'm doing well, actually. I'm enjoying the sunshine. it's been lovely It's been a lovely spring. It's been a lovely spring so far. Rain next week. We need it. um Yeah, I'm doing well. I'm excited for the coming Saturday games. You guys away Portsmouth, Wrexham away at Wigan.
00:00:53
Ken Davies
Tricky games, but both games I think we need to get something out of for different reasons.
00:00:59
officialgspn
Yeah, very much so
Ken's Dream Championship League
00:01:00
officialgspn
very much so. Now, we started this segment 18 episodes ago when it just became a little bit of a Derby County look at because they were doing so badly. And it looked that relegation was absolutely nailed on from the championship down to League One.
00:01:14
officialgspn
ah But it's since morphed into Ken's dream championship for next season because what all Ken wants, more than anything out of life, he's a simple guy, aren't you, Kenny? You're a simple guy.
00:01:24
Ken Davies
The
00:01:25
officialgspn
ah What do you want out of... what what's the What's the biggest thing you could get out of life right now?
00:01:29
Ken Davies
biggest thing I get out of life right now ah is Leicester, Derby and Wrexham all in the same division.
00:01:29
officialgspn
Thank
00:01:36
Ken Davies
It's an absolute dream of mine because I've got a lot of family who are Leicester supporters. I've got tons of family of Derby supporters and you are and a lot of my friends are. And there's the lowly Wrexham coming up from the National League with a bullet.
00:01:50
Ken Davies
And it all looks like this is all going to come together in one beautiful season next year where those three teams are all in the same division. I could not, I can't imagine anything more exciting than that.
00:02:06
officialgspn
Did you just say Wrexham are coming up from the National League with a bullet?
00:02:09
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:02:09
officialgspn
i think I think with ah with a budget more like, ah because they've certainly spent more than every other championship team and they're not even in the league yet.
00:02:16
Ken Davies
I beg your pardon.
00:02:17
officialgspn
ah nobody wants nobody wants Nobody wants Wrexham in the championship. Just buy, buy, buy, spend, spend, spend. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's not football as we know it. ah But we'll see. We'll see. i mean, um Wickham, who are Wrexham's greatest challengers for that second season,
00:02:33
officialgspn
um promotion spot. They won in midweek. They won away at Huddersfield.
00:02:36
Ken Davies
Yeah, which is which is a good result for that.
00:02:37
officialgspn
ah they had was is It is a good result for them because they've been right off form.
00:02:38
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:02:41
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:02:41
officialgspn
So they're only three points behind you lot we and you've played both played 41 games. So it's still all to play for. As much as it looked like a couple of weeks ago, like Wrexham were going to run away with it, it's still and still in the balance slightly.
00:02:52
officialgspn
But Wrexham, I would say, they've got to be hot favourites, haven't they?
00:02:57
Ken Davies
Five games to go.
00:02:58
officialgspn
They've got to be hot favourites together.
00:02:59
Ken Davies
um I'm nervous. I'm sweating. My palms are clammy. you know you who Yeah, so everything and everything's normal.
00:03:06
officialgspn
Yeah, but that's just you that's just you every day. That's just that's got nothing to do.
00:03:10
Ken Davies
The blood pressure tablets aren't working.
00:03:11
officialgspn
That's got nothing to do. Yeah.
00:03:13
Ken Davies
So, no so so it's yeah, it's it's it's going to be a tough run in. They've got a cho they've got it ah tougher run in the nose. I really could have done with them losing the week, though. But anyway, it's ah I've got this horrible suspicion that if we don't make it up as one of the automatic places, I think we'll struggle in the, if you like, in the in the playoffs.
00:03:34
Ken Davies
So I've got my things crossed.
00:03:35
officialgspn
yeah Yeah, well, here's hoping. and
00:03:38
Ken Davies
Shall we say a little prayer?
00:03:38
officialgspn
but You never know.
00:03:39
Ken Davies
Shall we say a little prayer?
00:03:39
officialgspn
i mean
00:03:41
Ken Davies
Our Father, our Father, who art in heaven, please get Wrexham promoted automatically.
00:03:41
officialgspn
Well, you say it, and I'll go and i'll go have a cup of tea.
00:03:48
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:03:49
officialgspn
Okay, I'm not joining in that prayer at all. I think that's a terrible prayer. That's a terrible prayer. Anyway, look, part of it's
Football Performance Discussions
00:03:56
officialgspn
coming true. Derby have picked up on form, ah got a very good point against Burnley on Tuesday night and played pretty well.
00:04:00
Ken Davies
Yeah, it was.
00:04:02
officialgspn
Actually, they played very well. like very well Could have nicked it right at the end. But 0-0 was good. Leicester were woeful against ah Newcastle on Monday night. The game was over in 10 minutes when Newcastle were 2-0 up.
00:04:13
Ken Davies
They've gone.
00:04:14
officialgspn
They're just dreadful.
00:04:15
Ken Davies
Their heads have gone.
00:04:15
officialgspn
Everything...
00:04:16
Ken Davies
That's another That's another of those sayings, isn't it, in football that makes no sense different if you're not in football.
00:04:17
officialgspn
everything every
00:04:21
Ken Davies
Their heads have gone.
00:04:23
officialgspn
Yes, and we talked about this, was it last week or a week before?
00:04:25
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:04:25
officialgspn
I don't know, time flies so quickly, about phrases in football that mean, well, what do they mean? Yeah, the Reds gone, the Reds gone.
00:04:30
Ken Davies
The roads have gone. No.
00:04:31
officialgspn
ah um Which isn't isn't literally true. They weren't running around headless with their heads rolling around a pitch.
00:04:36
Ken Davies
No. But they would have done any worse.
00:04:38
officialgspn
ah But they they might as well have done, yeah. They might have scored a header, you never know. ah Anyway, so it's all looking good.
00:04:44
Ken Davies
It'd be a necker. It'd be a necker, wouldn't it? Let's be honest. Or a shoulderer.
00:04:46
officialgspn
No, no. Well, it depends, though, whether it went off the body that's running around or whether it hit one of the heads that was just on the pitch and went in, then it would be a header.
00:04:54
Ken Davies
Oh, here
00:04:56
officialgspn
And if and even even better, if the ball was coming across the area, right, and you kicked one of the heads and it hit the ball and went in, it would be the best diving header in the history of diving headers.
00:04:59
Ken Davies
we go. Yeah.
00:05:06
Ken Davies
Right. Okay.
00:05:06
officialgspn
It would be great.
00:05:07
Ken Davies
Okay. Yeah. Okay, Nick. Moving on.
00:05:10
officialgspn
but i just I always like to think of different ways to score goals. Right, OK.
Offensive Chants in Football
00:05:15
officialgspn
What we're having a look at today is in the light and the lights of some chanting going on at Sunday's Manchester Derby.
00:05:23
officialgspn
In fact, there's a bit of a Man United theme show this, um unintentionally.
00:05:24
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:05:26
officialgspn
ah But they put themselves in these things. and In the light of some rather unpalatable chanting against Phil Foden at so the weekend during the very very... It was the most interesting thing that happened. It was a terrible, terrible 0-0.
00:05:36
Ken Davies
That was a terrible game. That was the worst worst Manchester derby I can ever remember.
00:05:38
officialgspn
Yeah, 0-0 draw with Manchester.
00:05:43
officialgspn
Yeah. ah No, it was dreadful. And it was dominated it was dominated really by comments made by Pep Guardiola afterwards about chants that were and some Manchester United fans, not many, but some Manchester United fans against ah Phil Foden's mother.
00:05:58
officialgspn
And we're having a look at look what is acceptable. Where is the line here? What is it acceptable ah in in terms of ah football supporters chanting at players? and We're going doing that. And then we're also also having a look at the great row this week between Nemanja Matic and Andre Inanna, the Manchester United goalkeeper, who said with no justification whatsoever ah that Manchester United were were better than Lyon.
00:06:18
officialgspn
And that just isn't true, as was proved last night. And we're going to have a look at him. is he ah is Was he right? Was Matic right to tell him that he was dreadful? Is Inanna right?
00:06:28
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:06:29
officialgspn
And is he absolutely rubbish? so we're going to have a look at that and other worst goalkeepers that we can remember. A quick one on managers and how do managers get players out of a confidence slump? And the good goodness me, there's few of them needed at the moment.
00:06:42
officialgspn
Ruvan Nistaroy need not apply for that little segment. And finally, some predictions as how the weekend's game are getting on. Anyway, Ken, let's start then with Phil Foden. What was your take on all of this?
00:06:54
officialgspn
um Chance against Phil Foden's mother. Guardiola coming out after the press conference and said it's just not acceptable. Are football players fair game?
00:07:02
Ken Davies
ah Football players are fair game. Football players' families are not fair game. They've got no place in this. So this that's where I draw a very solid line.
00:07:15
Ken Davies
Now, me and you remember the dark days and the were dark days of the 70s and 80s when, you know, racist and sexist chanting was, was you know, commonplace.
00:07:27
Ken Davies
Thank God, you know, we've moved a long, long, long way from that scenario. But... occasionally, and we've seen it in a number of occasions where players' girlfriends, players' wives, players' mothers, players' kids, players get are the subject of chants from opposing fans. And we all know we love a chant and we're going to come into some... We're going talk about some of the better ones, but...
00:07:54
Ken Davies
You know, there's a line. And the line is, have a go at the player. Have a go at the ref. Have a go at the manager. yeah Have a go at people who are actually directly involved. Don't call them out for any physical dis ah you know issues they may have.
00:08:08
Ken Davies
You it's fine to talk about and to and to moan about and to highlight their failings as players. But let's keep the families and kids and and relationships well away from the chance, I think.
00:08:23
officialgspn
We saw a lot, didn't we, after the Wagatha Christie trial of Chance being directed towards Rebecca Vardy, Jamie Vardy's wife.
00:08:32
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:08:35
officialgspn
Is that at all fair on the basis that so much of this had been in the public domain and so much of it everybody was talking about anyway? Or is there or is is is there is there literally no no no way you should go there?
00:08:50
officialgspn
Is it just a line that should never be crossed?
00:08:52
Ken Davies
Honestly, I see it as a fairly black and white issue. you know it's And I get the Wagatha Christie thing was slightly different because she's a lady using the public eye. ah She's you know ah yeah made, presumably, made commercial advantage through being in the in the public eye and therefore is a little bit more it a little bit more acceptable.
00:09:14
Ken Davies
But to be honest, I still don't like it because you know then they're not there. They're not in a position to answer back. They can't turn on a fantastic performance and shut the opposition supporters up.
00:09:27
Ken Davies
ah i just I would much rather we just kept it to having a ah ane go at players and then we all know where we stand. I think soon as you cross that line into into associated people who have got nothing to do with football, really, I would i would say i would say no.
00:09:44
officialgspn
Thank
00:09:44
Ken Davies
And I think Pep was right to call it out. And I think Pep was right to say, look, it's not a very classy thing to do. Let's say but stay classy and and and and just keep it to the players.
00:09:56
Ken Davies
keep it to the players
00:09:59
officialgspn
Yeah. um Stay classy is an interesting one, ah with emphasis on the word stay. That raises another point altogether. Listen, why do you think the the FA can take action here? There is there are rules and regulations within the FA to say that clubs must keep their supporters under control and they are duty-bound to stop this kind of thing.
00:10:19
officialgspn
Yet we don't ever see any kind of any kind of um action taken by the FA on this. Why do you think that is?
00:10:30
Ken Davies
Honestly, i think that's ah i think it's impossible to do. i think I think the FA recognises that people that go and watch football teams are not necessarily under control of the foot off the football teams themselves.
00:10:45
Ken Davies
You know, we've got 30,000, 50,000 individual people statistically in any population, in the population of the UK and any other country, there's a certain proportion of them who who who have got questionable moral morals and you know questionable standards.
00:11:02
Ken Davies
That's nothing to do with the club. And I think it's it would it's actually very unfair, I think, for because and they do it because it's easy. It's unfair, I think, on the football ah governing bodies to target the teams as if teams can do anything about it.
00:11:18
Ken Davies
I don't think they can.
00:11:19
officialgspn
but Well, well well ah I was going to argue this because teams can, in this day and age, there is such good CCTV and so surveillance of top-flight football clubs. You can pinpoint anybody in a crowd with a high-vis image dead easily.
00:11:32
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:11:34
officialgspn
Manchester United, if they wanted to, could find out in a split second who some of those chances were. like could if They if they were minded to do so.
00:11:43
Ken Davies
And do you think the but the question is do do you think they should?
00:11:44
officialgspn
But...
00:11:46
Ken Davies
do you Do you think they should identify those people and and ban them from football for for for that kind of chance? um I mean that kind chance is definitely palatable or is it?
00:11:56
officialgspn
No, I'm not talking about banning them. No, not talking about banning them. No, what I'm talking about, I mean, you said there at the top of the item here that it's unacceptable.
00:12:03
Ken Davies
It is.
00:12:03
officialgspn
There's a line to be crossed. and It's unacceptable. Well, if it's unacceptable, why are we not doing anything about it?
00:12:07
Ken Davies
Yeah. Yeah.
00:12:08
officialgspn
Why aren't clubs doing something about it it? doesn't have to be a ban. That's extreme. But certainly a warning... which could lead to a ban if they carry on. i mean, it took it took legal action.
00:12:19
officialgspn
It took the police to step in a few years ago and ban chants against Brighton fans, homophobic chants against Brighton fans.
00:12:24
Ken Davies
yeah Yeah, I think i I can get behind that as long as we draw the line in the right place.
00:12:26
officialgspn
And people were actually then, action was taken against them for doing so. um the The Phil Foden chanting against his mum was not at the the worst end of the scale by any stretch of the imagination. is pretty It was pretty benign, let's face it.
00:12:40
officialgspn
and But if there is a line to be crossed, Ken, as you said there should be, then surely incumbent on somebody to do something about it. there no point Otherwise, there's no point having a line, is there? Just say, well, get on and do whatever you want.
00:12:54
Ken Davies
ah and I'm not sure the Phil Foden thing, unpalatable that it was and unnecessary though it was, kind of constitutes something that's beyond that line.
00:13:07
officialgspn
So and and um unpalatable, but not unacceptable is your view on that.
00:13:10
Ken Davies
No, unacceptable, unpalatable, but I wouldn't, but unpunishable is what I'm saying.
00:13:16
officialgspn
Unpunishable. Okay, fair enough. Well, there we are. What about other chants then? Because let's face it, you can't go to a football game without... Football without chanting is an utter waste of time. Stay at home, watch it on the telly or something.
00:13:27
Ken Davies
ah I love a chant. I love joining in the chant.
00:13:30
officialgspn
Who doesn't?
00:13:31
Ken Davies
ah ah I chant.
00:13:31
officialgspn
Who doesn't? What's your favourite chant? What's your favourite chant?
Favorite Football Chants
00:13:34
Ken Davies
personally enjoy chants that are either self-deprecating, which I always think are dead funny, ah either if you're the team or you hear it from the other team, or chants that are really witty, you know, ones which use a song or whatever in a very clever way because that particular chants player, if you like, fits into that. so So the best ones I remember, and I've seen a lot of this because I've watched a lot lot of National League football. Wrexham were way too good for that. So you'd get you get chance from some very poor teams in there.
00:14:10
Ken Davies
And I remember... I remember ones like, we lo we lose every week. We lose every week. You're nothing special. We lose every week. That kind of stuff makes me laugh. When when teams know they're bad, celebrate they're bad, and kind of rejoice in that and make it make make a some fun out of it. The other one, I yeah i remember this.
00:14:33
Ken Davies
I think Spurs did it. I definitely remember Villa doing it Anfield years ago when...
00:14:40
Ken Davies
they were singing, let's pretend we've scored a goal. Let's pretend we've scored a goal. There was no chance of them ever scoring a goal. So when they chanted that, they actually celebrated as if they had scored a goal.
00:14:53
Ken Davies
Now, I think that's...
00:14:54
officialgspn
Yeah, I remember that. I remember that.
00:14:55
Ken Davies
just
00:14:55
officialgspn
I remember people doing that. And you look at them and just go, you absolute idiots.
00:14:58
Ken Davies
No, no, no, no, I love that. I love the fact that this that they know they're not going to score on for the rest of the year. And they're just going to a little bit of fun with the fact that they know they're...
00:15:10
Ken Davies
Not very good. And they are.
00:15:12
officialgspn
ah You nearly went.
00:15:12
Ken Davies
That is so close.
00:15:13
officialgspn
You nearly did it. You nearly did it. Right, on that note and that note, I'm moving on from Ken's chanting before we get into trouble.
00:15:15
Ken Davies
No,
00:15:19
Ken Davies
ah
00:15:20
officialgspn
We're going to move on to Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Anana.
00:15:22
Ken Davies
no no, what about you what about your favourite champs?
00:15:23
officialgspn
And...
00:15:24
Ken Davies
Have you got any favourite champs?
00:15:25
officialgspn
Well, I've got loads. i've got I've got loads, but i most of them can't be can't be ah repeated on a...
00:15:32
Ken Davies
Bobby Samora?
00:15:34
officialgspn
Well, Bobby Zamora one, yeah. So, the Bobby Zamora... Now, Derby have history with Bobby Zamora, and...
00:15:37
Ken Davies
Yeah, I do. I remember this.
00:15:39
officialgspn
If don't know why, go and Google it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. and So there's obviously the Oh, Bobby Zamora chant, followed by word that can't be repeated. But there is another Bobby Zamora chant, which goes somewhere like this.
00:15:53
officialgspn
ah When you're sat in Rosette and the ball hits your head, it's Zamora.
00:15:57
Ken Davies
That's clever.
00:15:58
officialgspn
which is a great chart.
00:15:58
Ken Davies
That's clever.
00:15:59
officialgspn
It's a clever chart because you kind of play that play on words with that's Amore and that's Amora.
00:16:02
Ken Davies
Yeah. That's clever, that one.
00:16:04
officialgspn
So, um yeah, Fulham started that one, ah the the the great rivals of West Ham. So, are they great rivals of West Ham? I don't think so. But they started anyway, fair play to the Fulham fans.
00:16:15
officialgspn
ah Good job. Right, before we move on, a quick word from our sponsor.
00:16:19
Ken Davies
Yeah, this podcast, as you know, is part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only network that brings you exclusive daily news from all the big teams in the Premier League. So you're enjoying that. And here at Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform.
00:16:36
Ken Davies
and the bobby zamora of that was zencaster uh came out the clear winner uh 4k video recording from your phone ai editing that automatically removes all those ums and r's it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently see if that's gonna that's gonna get taken out that's that little i did it on purpose uh
00:17:00
officialgspn
and Most of what you say is going to get taken out.
00:17:02
Ken Davies
So if you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description learn out more about Zencaster. Right. So, yeah. What about Anana?
Technical Difficulties and Sponsor Ad
00:17:13
officialgspn
Yeah, I should say, i should say why don't you start that? we do We do have a pre-production meeting and we do discuss all of this.
00:17:19
Ken Davies
You wouldn't think it, would you?
00:17:20
officialgspn
ah But occasionally, yeah, I know. Well, and you wouldn't just then because i have started playing the Bionique ad and you started reading out the Zencastrad at the same time. So I turn the Bionique ad off and we'll play that a little bit later on.
00:17:31
Ken Davies
Ah, social media, yeah.
00:17:31
officialgspn
ah Right, OK. Andre, a good spat, a good war were war of words, easy for me to say, ah this week between Nemanja Matic and Andre Inanna. They both used to play for Manchester United, obviously.
00:17:43
officialgspn
In the run-up to the Lyon-Man United game last night, ah it was it was quite It was quite ridiculous. I don't think Inanna is in any ah position whatsoever to start saying things like, ah we're a much better team than you are, Leon.
00:17:56
officialgspn
In fact, I don't think he's in much position to say, you're a much better team we're a much better team than anybody, quite frankly. um With Manchester United, they're not very good. But he was he started it all. Matic retorted, saying you're the worst goalkeeper in Manchester United history.
00:18:10
officialgspn
and And to be fair, Anana did his best to live up to that last night with two Howlers, which gifted Lyon two goals, including one right at the end of the game and deep into injury time ah to make the score 2-2.
00:18:22
officialgspn
The first one, he dived and it went over his hands. He looked like an under seven goalkeeper.
00:18:25
Ken Davies
That was Paul.
00:18:27
officialgspn
ah The one, you know, that kid who's sticking gold with doesn't want to be there. And the second one, he did what Inanna does quite often, which is it's a shot straight at him. And instead of either like gathering it or kicking it away or palming it off somewhere, he just literally palms it straight into the path of the on-rushing attacker who sticks into the net with a massive, thank you very much, you fool, written all over his face.
00:18:51
officialgspn
So that was that. Game finished 2-2. whoa Was Matic right to say you're the worst goalkeeper in Manchester United history? Or was Anana right um it's to bite back? What's your thought
Goalkeeper Performance Analysis
00:19:04
officialgspn
on this, Ken?
00:19:04
Ken Davies
Well, the first thing I should say is I like the spat. I like the fact that for once, you the kind of insipid media savvy kind of,
00:19:16
Ken Davies
stuff that we all listen to in terms of ah interviews by footballers and but managers, ah we dispense with that. And Matic said it like he thought it.
00:19:29
Ken Davies
ah um And that that just that just creates news and that creates interest. And I i like that. I'm not sure we'd want everyone to be doing that all the time, but it certainly caught caught my attention. And of course, then you get Anana going back.
00:19:43
Ken Davies
And... it Was what' Matty too right to say he's the worst Man United keeper? ah No, he isn't right to say that. ah He's definitely had an extremely difficult season.
00:19:56
Ken Davies
He didn't have a great season last year. i know you know I know a lot of Man United supporters. We all do.
00:20:01
officialgspn
Thank you.
00:20:01
Ken Davies
And none of them, none of them, as far as I'm aware, rate Anana. They're worried to death about Anana. And when you think about, obviously, De Gea was there before Inanna. I mean, he was he was proper keeper. And and and I think De Gea was one of the better keepers that the Premier League's ever seen.
00:20:18
Ken Davies
And following De Gea was always going to be difficult. But Inanna is nowhere near. He's nowhere near good enough for Man United. The problem you United have got is there's so many holes in that roster.
00:20:33
Ken Davies
There's so many priorities in terms of what they need to do. What are they going to do? Where does Inanna fit within the priorities of what Mon United need to do in this rebuild?
00:20:45
Ken Davies
I suspect they would love to change Inanna. ah I just don't think they will because I just think other priorities are going to take...
00:20:54
officialgspn
Well, they're heavily after, aren't they? They're very closely linked and heavily after ah Zion Suzuki from Parma. 22 years old, he's valued at 40 million quid. ah They are chasing him and chasing him hard.
00:21:05
officialgspn
So it wouldn't surprise me Inanna found himself on the bench next year.
00:21:06
Ken Davies
Right.
00:21:12
Ken Davies
Maybe. It's just whether they want to spend that kind of money on a keeper. and And, you know, there are plenty of other gaps. And and that's just the challenge that I think United have got. I mean, when you're behind the eight ball in the way United are, ah you can make a case of spending 40 million in 11 different places. And i think I think they're in that kind of situation.
00:21:32
Ken Davies
um I watched the game with the Olympic Linae game. Yeah, the first one was absolutely horrible.
00:21:36
officialgspn
you
00:21:37
Ken Davies
I mean, the the dip on the ball and the bounce of the ball made him look stupid, but but he was nowhere near it. And when when the ball bounces over your hands, and it was one of those one of those free kicks that there was two options on it. You know, it was it was a brilliant free kick.
00:21:53
Ken Davies
He expected it to be headed in and reacting and having to dive to his right. No one touched it. He suddenly had to dive to his left. He put his arm out. it It bounced over it.
00:22:05
Ken Davies
He looks daft. but it And clearly it was was a mistake. The second one was more worrying for me. Although it was quite a close-range effort, In cricket parlance, it's like a slip catch. He's got hard hands.
00:22:19
Ken Davies
He doesn't caress the ball into his body. He doesn't have soft hands and and can, if you like, accept the ball. ah he he He kind of punches the ball out and it's instinctive.
00:22:30
Ken Davies
And that's just going to give a second follow-up chance to the forward, which is exactly what i happened last night. So he's got some technical issues. I'm no keeper, but it's pretty clear he's got some technical issues that he's got to resolve.
00:22:43
Ken Davies
ah But he's not the worst keeper for United, and we're very happy to talk about who that might be.
00:22:49
officialgspn
he's He's not. I mean, it's probably worth saying that he's got somewhere between 65% and 70% save rate for Manchester United. And that's by no means the worst in in the league.
00:22:56
Ken Davies
No, it isn't.
00:22:57
officialgspn
in the league you know He's just one of these keepers who seems to attract mistakes and they're always highlighted. And it doesn't help when you come out. and um'm um bit like I've got to say, I'm a bit like you.
00:23:08
officialgspn
i think I think before each game, every team should nominate one player to have a spat with another player. I think that should become part of the rules.
00:23:14
Ken Davies
You'll love that. Yeah,
00:23:16
officialgspn
That should become part of rules. And we should have these things leading up to the game just to give them a bit of spice because most games, you know, a bit dull. ah So, um but yeah, he can't he can't be saying that kind of thing and then chuck in a performance like that. If you if you want to go out and say that, that's great.
00:23:31
officialgspn
But you better have a good game, mate.
00:23:31
Ken Davies
you better have a clean sheet.
00:23:33
officialgspn
You better have a good game.
00:23:33
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:23:34
officialgspn
And he's had a bit of a shocker, let's face it. But as you say, he's not the worst. ah Mark Bosnish springs to mind as one of the worst Man United players.
00:23:40
Ken Davies
Well...
00:23:43
officialgspn
the goalkeepers to... had lovely hair, good-looking lad, but but not great goalkeeper.
00:23:46
Ken Davies
Great hair. But he was a great keeper for Villa, wasn't he?
00:23:49
officialgspn
Not great goalkeeper.
00:23:50
Ken Davies
was Villa before there, wasn't he? And everyone thought, what what a great great player. Go to United, it's very clear there was something there was something about his motivation that wasn't working, was there at United?
00:24:02
officialgspn
Yeah. And that's... it's just Maybe it's just a Manchester United thing because the pressure on you is enormous.
00:24:06
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:24:07
officialgspn
Absolutely enormous. But I remember Alex Ferguson criticising his off the field behaviour and activities and his playboy lifestyle and all that kind of stuff.
00:24:10
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:24:13
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:24:14
officialgspn
sir he wasn But he was he was a very good keeper.
00:24:14
Ken Davies
But...
00:24:16
officialgspn
just didn't happen for him there.
00:24:16
Ken Davies
It definitely didn't happen. And it didn't happen for ah Taibbi at United either. I mean, that one of the problems with with United, and in fact any team, if you're playing for a bad team and you' and you're a limited goalkeeper, let's say, you are going to get properly exposed.
00:24:34
Ken Davies
you know the the the the The goalkeepers we associate with being good good keepers generally are playing for good teams. And in a way, they get tend to get less exposed, just simply less volume of of shots that they've got to face.
00:24:49
officialgspn
Yeah, stuff coming their way, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:24:49
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:24:51
officialgspn
Crosses to take, shots to take, decision decisions to make, you know, just decisions to make.
00:24:52
Ken Davies
Yeah. Yeah. just Eventually, you're going to get overloaded. and And if you're not a great keeper, that's going to show.
00:25:01
officialgspn
But it is, yes, you're absolutely right. You are right. and that But it's then incumbent, isn't it? It's then incumbent on the manager to do something with you, to bring you
Player Confidence and Management
00:25:11
officialgspn
out of this. If your confidence is low, and Inanna, despite his wise words this week, or indeed not so wise words, he looks to keep his low on confidence. Because every time that ball comes to him, must be absolutely...
00:25:22
officialgspn
What's the phrase I'm looking for here? Quaking in his boots, shall we say? We'll go there.
00:25:25
Ken Davies
Brick in it.
00:25:26
officialgspn
and Bricking it, there you go It must be difficult. It's incumbent then on the manager, isn't it, to bring a player out of this and to support a player who is low on confidence.
00:25:37
Ken Davies
Yeah, it is. And it's difficult. And it's difficult in any sport. And what we're talking about here is if you're good enough to play for Man United, you're good enough. It's not about your technical ability, really.
00:25:48
Ken Davies
It's about what's going on upstairs, isn't it? and And whether you've got the confidence to actually deliver the performance you're capable of. And I think...
00:26:00
Ken Davies
Actually, when you really look at the great players in any sport, the great players are able to control that. And the great players are able to turn in fantastic performances when it matters.
00:26:12
Ken Davies
And the ones we forget are generally the players that, for whatever reason, it must be psychologically extremely challenging. ah The ones we forget tend to be the ones who don't do that quite as well. And I think it's all about how successful a manager is, can put his arms around a player and really get him to focus on the important things and try to eliminate the things which are just affecting his performance that are maybe outside that.
00:26:40
officialgspn
Yeah, long gone, I think, are the days of Brian Clough, where as brilliant as he was, and he was one of the best managers this game has ever seen, but he was more kick up the backside than arm around the shoulder kind of manager, although he knew that he knew how to do it when when he needed to do it, that's for sure.
00:26:49
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:26:55
officialgspn
Who do you think in in the Premier League is one of the best at getting the best out of his perhaps underforming but underperforming players and turning them around?
00:27:02
Ken Davies
Well, I've always thought Pep is a master of of of psychology. I think he's a great coach. And and and and I think not only is he a great coach in terms of the technical play, but he's also a great coach, I think, in terms of the psychological side of things.
00:27:16
Ken Davies
I actually, have to say, was pretty impressed with Amorim and the way Amorim kind of defended Anana, saying, you know, I make a million more mistakes than these guys do. If you want to talk about mistakes...
00:27:30
Ken Davies
talk to me. I thought that was a really, I thought that was classy.
00:27:32
officialgspn
yeah And they did.
00:27:34
Ken Davies
ah thought I thought it was very classy.
00:27:35
officialgspn
Yeah, fair enough, yeah. ah For me, the manager who sticks in the Premier League more than any is Eddie Howe, who I think is absolutely brilliant at this part of the game.
00:27:39
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:27:43
officialgspn
And he's motivated and nurtured a team who, let's face it, haven't had major investment into their team for ah for a club that's challenging for the top four every season now, as Newcastle are.
00:27:55
officialgspn
And he's managed to... to look i mean, look at what he's done with Joel Linton, for example.
00:27:58
Ken Davies
Yeah. Amazing.
00:27:59
officialgspn
I mean, look at what he's done there. and And he's really, really good at that, the mental, if you like, side of the game. ah don't I don't think there's anybody better ah in the league.
00:28:10
officialgspn
It's easier when you're Pep Guardiola and you've got multi-billion pound players here, there and everywhere.
00:28:12
Ken Davies
Yeah, I agree that.
00:28:14
officialgspn
ah for but I think Eddie Howe's really, really done a top job there.
00:28:17
Ken Davies
And Eddie Howe did a great job before, didn't he?
00:28:18
officialgspn
Right
00:28:19
Ken Davies
Before he went to Newcastle. Players love him.
00:28:23
officialgspn
Yeah. Oh, they do. They do. And, you know, he's he's he's got them over-performing in many aspects. And if they do qualify for the Champions League this year, and I think they will. They've had injury problems this year. They've had pretty much one striker all season.
00:28:37
officialgspn
ah He would have done an an amazing job.
00:28:39
Ken Davies
No, that's a good shout.
00:28:39
officialgspn
Amazing.
00:28:40
Ken Davies
That's a really good shout, isn't it?
00:28:42
officialgspn
Right, before we move on to the final bit, which is, of course, our predictions, here's a word from our sponsor. And rather than you read this out, Ken, I'll play it.
00:28:49
Ken Davies
Okay.
00:29:28
Ken Davies
miss
00:29:28
officialgspn
Oh, there you go. I'll tell you what, mate.
00:29:29
Ken Davies
He makes a meal of that, doesn't he, that fella?
00:29:30
officialgspn
I'll tell you what. He's hard work, that fellow.
00:29:33
Ken Davies
Oh, blimey.
00:29:33
officialgspn
I don't know who he is. i mean, I don't know what filter he put on his microphone to make that sound so sexy and yet quite
00:29:38
Ken Davies
He did sound sexy, but God, he was wasn't he?
00:29:40
officialgspn
and Yeah, quite slow. yeah
00:29:41
Ken Davies
He was so slow with it.
00:29:43
officialgspn
ah like
00:29:43
Ken Davies
God...
00:29:44
officialgspn
Yeah, Bionic supplements, guys. 40% off with a code on the show notes. It's worth giving it a go if that's what takes your fancy.
Football Predictions and Analysis
00:29:53
officialgspn
ah Right, last part of the show then we're going to on to is our weekly predictions.
00:29:58
officialgspn
Now, ken Ken's got oh he's got his pipe out again.
00:30:01
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:30:02
officialgspn
oh Here we go.
00:30:03
Ken Davies
I've been thinking.
00:30:04
officialgspn
He's got his pipe out. Is that how you think? Right. Do you always pull that face when you think?
00:30:13
officialgspn
last week, I was bit worried last week because having done our predictions, I thought I'd add a bit of a shocker. And Ken is only a few places behind me. And anybody who's played predictions with Ken, and we we've done this for for a long, long, long time, knows that he's a bit rubbish for the for half the first half of the season.
00:30:30
officialgspn
Then, when he's behind, he starts inventing loads of games that allows him to cheat and pick up with you. And then eventually, he kind of comes good and wins it in the last couple.
00:30:36
Ken Davies
I'm creeping up on you, Nick. I'm creeping up on you.
00:30:38
officialgspn
He is... He wins it in the last couple of couple of weeks.
00:30:41
Ken Davies
Yes.
00:30:42
officialgspn
And then last week, last season, actually, in the prediction league we had with our mates, he won it in the last 10 minutes of the season, having been like miles, literally miles behind.
00:30:51
Ken Davies
and
00:30:52
officialgspn
Miles behind.
00:30:52
Ken Davies
Wonderful. I've things happening this season.
00:30:54
officialgspn
And poor old, well, the poor old bloke who was top of the league, literally from the first ball until the 89th minute of the last game, he's still never forgiven.
00:31:05
Ken Davies
He's a bit bitter about it, isn't he, to be honest?
00:31:05
officialgspn
Poor old guy. He's never forgiven.
00:31:07
Ken Davies
We've got to get him on.
00:31:07
officialgspn
He's he's
00:31:07
Ken Davies
We've got to have to get him on.
00:31:10
officialgspn
So how's it looking? i've got I've got the games in front of me, which I'm going to go through in a minute, but how is the league looking for you and I this week?
00:31:14
Ken Davies
Well, we got five each last season, last week. So we are we're still only three points between us. 59 for me, 62 for you. I don't know how we've managed to get it back to that, but we have. So we've got 11 games.
00:31:26
Ken Davies
11 games this week, haven't we?
00:31:26
officialgspn
Yeah. Yeah, it's quite a lot. um i was I was quite pleased with that 5-5 draw, to be honest. I thought you might have battered me.
00:31:34
Ken Davies
Darby got me out trouble, I think.
00:31:35
officialgspn
But there we are. There we are. Right, OK, let's look at this weekend's Sixers then.
00:31:41
Ken Davies
Okay.
00:31:42
officialgspn
see See what you think at home. ah But Ken, see what you think here. Manchester City versus Crystal Palace.
00:31:47
Ken Davies
I'm going for a home win. I just think City, I've got enough to play for. Palace, it's kind of, you know, it's kind of... I just don't think you've enough. Man City.
00:31:59
officialgspn
Yeah, Palace have done it the other way around this season, haven't Normally, they so they sort of do well, get to the beach around March and then just completely fall off a cliff.
00:32:04
Ken Davies
yeah like Okay.
00:32:07
officialgspn
This year, they started badly and their run of form at a moment has been fantastic. on a great run of form. Their away form is sensational. I don't think Man City are yet hitting any kind of rhythm or form particularly, so I'm going to go for a draw here.
00:32:21
officialgspn
I think Palace will get a point out of it.
00:32:21
Ken Davies
That's good.
00:32:23
officialgspn
Brighton-Leicester.
00:32:24
Ken Davies
Well, ah we there's ah there's a ah saying we have, don't we, at GSPN Towers?
00:32:27
officialgspn
Is it...
00:32:28
Ken Davies
Never back Leicester.
00:32:31
officialgspn
Yeah, yeah.
00:32:31
Ken Davies
ah So it's impossible to do anything but say home win.
00:32:32
officialgspn
ah yeah yeah
00:32:35
officialgspn
Yeah, so it's literally Leicester versus the other team. It doesn't matter who the other team is, they're going to win. So yeah, ah both of us go for a home win there for Brighton, even though they're not in the best of form themselves.
00:32:43
Ken Davies
No, they're
00:32:44
officialgspn
ah Right, Notts-Forest versus Everton. I'm getting a bit bored of Forest now. um I've been lording them all season, but as a Derby fan, my patience runs only so thin. And I've been lording them on the basis and not only have they been absolutely brilliant, but we all presumed that the bubble would burst.
00:33:01
Ken Davies
not.
00:33:02
officialgspn
But the bubble has not burst.
00:33:03
Ken Davies
Keeps getting reinflated, doesn't it?
00:33:05
officialgspn
Yeah, and I'm getting a bit fed up with it. So anyway, they've got a home game against Everton this weekend. How do you think it's going to go, Ken?
00:33:11
Ken Davies
Draw. Everton resurgent. I think Everton look a much more difficult team to to play against now with Moyes there, which I'd like to see.
00:33:22
Ken Davies
Forest, you know, I was predicting the bubble bursting just before they won 7-0, so I look a bit silly. ah But so I'm going for a draw. I think it will be a There
00:33:32
officialgspn
Yeah, um I've gone for a draw this one as well because I think for the same sort of reasons, Everton are now looking very solid at the back.
00:33:37
Ken Davies
you are.
00:33:39
officialgspn
and And I know Forrest keep winning, but all I keep hearing from from the Forrest podcasters, GSPN, or other people I know who who who are Forrest fans say they look tired, they look tired, they look leggy. um You know, sooner or later he's going to catch up with you. They've got an FA cup five semi-final coming up.
00:33:54
officialgspn
ah Fair play to them. um Yeah, um I think Everton might get a point of this.
00:33:58
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:33:58
officialgspn
So, yeah, fair play. Right, right. Already relegated Southampton. They got sent down last week. 10 points. They need two more to beat Derby County's record and not to become the worst football ah team in Premier League history. At the moment, they are the worst team in Premier League history.
00:34:21
officialgspn
How are they going to get on? They've got a home game against Aston Villa this weekend. Any more points for the Saints?
00:34:25
Ken Davies
ah No. I mean, vette Villa really are coming good at the right time.
00:34:27
officialgspn
No. No.
00:34:33
Ken Davies
Southampton are in a kind of Leicester camp. ah I think it'll be closer than i think it'd be closer than than we think, but I just think Villa will have too much in the end. So I'm going to go for an away win.
00:34:48
officialgspn
Is there a train of thought here to say that now that Southampton are down, ah they you know the brakes are off and and and the pressure's off and they don't need to worry about it? i mean Anybody watched their game last week against Tottenham, they were pathetic.
00:35:01
officialgspn
They were pathetic. um mean There was nothing about them whatsoever. But now they are down, might something happen? i don't think it will, to be honest with you
00:35:06
Ken Davies
No, no, I don't, I don't think so. I mean, I think it's, uh, if anything, I think the bubble, the air might come out of the bubble even more, to be honest. I it really will be on the beaches.
00:35:16
officialgspn
I don't think there's a...
00:35:18
Ken Davies
Uh,
00:35:19
officialgspn
There's no bubble left. There's no bubble left There's just kind of a ah little bit of pathetic little bit of plastic there on just ah sitting on the ground.
00:35:22
Ken Davies
it's anti-bubble. It's like a black hole.
00:35:24
officialgspn
Yeah, yeah could it could be an inverse, an inverse bubble when things can't get anywhere.
00:35:25
Ken Davies
Uh, An inverse. Yeah, yeah he exactly.
00:35:28
officialgspn
Yeah, you
00:35:29
Ken Davies
So I think – and Villa are going for things. Villa have got a very clear vision in terms of where they potentially you could get to. So I can't see it. I'm not saying it's going to be a 4-0, but I just think Villa ultimately will have too much.
00:35:43
Ken Davies
So what about you?
00:35:43
officialgspn
I think it could be a 4-0. I think it could be a 4-0. I've been super impressed with because there looked a time, didn't there, where the that very difficult Champions League, Premier League campaign running them in duality.
00:35:56
officialgspn
It looked like it was going to catch up with them. And the league form sort of dipped and they fell down towards the 9th on the table. But they've come back up. They've recentlyed they've been resurgent in recent times. so They've made a really couple of those smart transfer window.
00:36:08
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:36:09
officialgspn
ah You know, really smart transfer window in January. It's given him a real boost. So, yeah, Villa win for me. ah Right. All London derby then. Arsenal versus Brentford.
00:36:17
Ken Davies
I really don't like Arsenal at the moment. ah You know, there's no goals in that team, ah im apart from when they're Europe. But it's it's ah but i can't I can't see past a home win. I just think Arsenal's going to, again, going to have too much for Brentford.
00:36:33
officialgspn
Yeah, likewise. couple of more Declan Rice free kicks will do a treat.
00:36:35
Ken Davies
That was a kick.
00:36:36
officialgspn
That was that second free kick, by way.
00:36:36
Ken Davies
Wow.
00:36:38
officialgspn
That second free kick for me was the best.
00:36:39
Ken Davies
I've never seen something. that Talk about the postage, Dan.
00:36:43
officialgspn
Yeah. But that hit with p with with power, with pace, with swerve, with accuracy, it was unbelievable.
00:36:49
Ken Davies
ah Great. That's great.
00:36:50
officialgspn
was one of the best free kicks ever seen.
00:36:50
Ken Davies
I know want to get that out, though.
00:36:51
officialgspn
We were talking. Yeah, he would. Yeah, because he's like, you know, the greatest goalkeeper ever.
00:36:55
Ken Davies
I don't know what they've added in.
00:36:58
officialgspn
ah We were talking, ah quick cross-fertilization plug here.
00:37:02
Ken Davies
Oh, yeah.
00:37:03
officialgspn
Ken and I also run the Road to World Cup 26 podcast, which is broadcast every Friday. And we were recording one this morning, and we were talking about ah brilliant free kicks.
00:37:14
officialgspn
And we were talking about that fantastic free kick that Peru scored against Scotland in the 1978 World Cup in Argentina.
00:37:19
Ken Davies
Wow. What a...
00:37:21
officialgspn
And I said that's one of the greatest free kicks i've ever seen. Certainly Declan Rice's, well, both of them, but particularly the second one, fall into that category.
00:37:27
Ken Davies
ah
00:37:28
officialgspn
ah chi Chelsea Epswich, Chelsea Epswich, what do you think, Kenny?
00:37:30
Ken Davies
Again, don't fancy... You know what? I've got this down as a home, and i'm um I'm on the point of changing my mind.
00:37:32
officialgspn
not
00:37:37
Ken Davies
I know Ipswich are gone, ah but Ipswich have kind of impressed me a little bit with their fight and verve and determination, and Chelsea haven't. Now, I've got it as a home, but you... Oh, should I change? I'm changing it to a draw.
00:37:53
officialgspn
You can't change it to draw, because I've got it as a draw.
00:37:53
Ken Davies
Why? I'm keeping it as a home. I'll keep it as home then, just just to be different.
00:38:01
officialgspn
And I'm almost thinking about changing it to an away win, if I'm honest with you. I really am.
00:38:06
Ken Davies
that doing so
00:38:06
officialgspn
That's how bad Chelsea are. ah Right, Liverpool-West Ham.
00:38:11
Ken Davies
You've got that as a draw then. I've got that.
00:38:15
officialgspn
I've got Chelsea that switches draw, yeah.
00:38:16
Ken Davies
Yeah. Now, I think Liverpool are a little bit...
00:38:24
Ken Davies
imperfect at the moment. Let's put it that way. But I can't see further than a home. So I'm not going to talk myself out of a home win there. It's got to be. I mean, West Ham are horrible as well. So Liverpool 3-0.
00:38:35
officialgspn
I'm quite happy if for you to talk yourself out of a home win.
00:38:36
Ken Davies
No, I'm not going to do that.
00:38:37
officialgspn
Go on, give it another go.
00:38:38
Ken Davies
No, no, I'm not doing it.
00:38:38
officialgspn
Give another go.
00:38:39
Ken Davies
Home win.
00:38:39
officialgspn
There's every reason, there's every reason West Ham can get something out of this game. I've just no idea what it is. So I've got the home win as well. Wolves Tottenham. Here's an interesting one there.
00:38:51
officialgspn
Wolves Tottenham. Wolves great win at Ipswich last week, by the way. That was a cracking win.
00:38:55
Ken Davies
um I think Wolves are decent.
00:38:56
officialgspn
Tottenham. Oh.
00:38:59
Ken Davies
I think what they did was change the manager for a smart, smart, smart choice. And ea he's a top guy. And I think they are playing well. I think Anger Scott has still got a lot of problems.
00:39:16
Ken Davies
ah I'm going for home win.
00:39:19
officialgspn
Yeah, I've got a home win down, yep. I've got home win down as well. and so Quite right. Right, ah Newcastle, Manchester United, Sunday afternoon.
00:39:27
Ken Davies
Now, I know what you're going to go for here, and I'm not. I'm going for a draw. i think ah I think United with a better team against City when I saw them.
00:39:40
Ken Davies
I mean, that's nothing to write home about because they were both dreadful, but i thought they were a better team. I thought they looked decent. ah I think it's yeah think it's going to be a draw. I mean, I like Newcastle.
00:39:53
Ken Davies
But eventually things are going to change for for for Man United. It's going to be a 3-3 Anana hat-trick.
00:40:02
officialgspn
um You said there just at the outset of that, Ken, you knew what I was going to do, but you might not know what I'm going to do for this one, actually.
00:40:07
Ken Davies
I do.
00:40:08
officialgspn
You might not know. No, I don't think you do.
00:40:10
Ken Davies
Okay.
00:40:11
officialgspn
What do you think I'm going to do here?
00:40:12
Ken Davies
ah Home win.
00:40:14
officialgspn
You think I'm going to go for home win?
00:40:15
Ken Davies
I do.
00:40:16
officialgspn
Yeah, you're right. Right, Bournemouth-Fulham, last game of of weekend round, Monday night, down at the Vitality. What do we think?
00:40:24
Ken Davies
Home win. Full on the phone look suddenly look a bit iffy. So I think Bournemouth good at home. going to go for Bournemouth home win.
00:40:35
officialgspn
Hmm, not sure on this one. ah ah I disagree, actually. I thought Fulham were terrific last week. I thought they played ah really, really well. um They beat Liverpool.
00:40:47
officialgspn
Not many teams beat Liverpool.
00:40:48
Ken Davies
It's true.
00:40:49
officialgspn
They turned the game around very, very quickly. And although Liverpool weren't on form, particularly, and looked a bit shaky defensively, I thought Fulham played excellently. Bournemouth, a bit hit and miss.
00:40:59
officialgspn
I mean, I wonder, I don't know, is it, are either of these teams going to qua sort of really be in there in the European shake-up at the end of the season?
00:41:06
Ken Davies
Well, you know, next week we should do a European special.
00:41:07
officialgspn
Or is it a bit of a pipe dream, do we
00:41:12
Ken Davies
Who's qualifying ah in these kind of places? Because there's a lot there's a lot of interest, a lot of teams still with interest. I mean, they've both got chances. ah I think the game tomorrow, or the game on Monday, I should say, is he's going to have a big say in that.
00:41:28
officialgspn
Well, Bournemouth are 10th on 45, Fulham are 8th on 48, Man City are 6th on 52. 6th is the place to be with the Conference League and upwards.
00:41:35
Ken Davies
yeah
00:41:39
officialgspn
Although, you know everybody's been talking about Premier League getting an extra Champions League place.
00:41:44
Ken Davies
yeah
00:41:46
officialgspn
Does that mean everything gets sort knocked down?
00:41:47
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:41:47
officialgspn
So we going to go down to 7th for a European spot?
00:41:49
Ken Davies
I think it does. I think it does.
00:41:51
officialgspn
Right, well, Villa are in 7th on 51, Fulham are 8th on 48, Bournemouth are on 45. It looks a tall order for Bournemouth, if honest with you. Fulham's still in with a shout, so which is why I'm going for Fulham to get something out this game and a draw.
00:42:02
Ken Davies
Okay. Interesting. And finally, Newcastle against Palace playing on Wednesday.
00:42:10
officialgspn
Oh, are they? ah right. Okay, i was looking I wasn't looking ahead that far.
00:42:12
Ken Davies
Yeah, Newcastle against Palace are going to include that because we will definitely won't record this until that's been played.
00:42:13
officialgspn
Right. Oh, bonus game. Bonus game.
00:42:19
officialgspn
Indeed. Right. Oh, goodness. Newcastle now. Hmm.
00:42:22
Ken Davies
Tricky one for you.
00:42:23
officialgspn
That is a tricky one for me. i always bet Newcastle at home. Always bet Newcastle home.
00:42:27
Ken Davies
And you've been consistently pro-Palace.
00:42:30
officialgspn
And I've been...
00:42:31
Ken Davies
but These are your two kind of semi-teams.
00:42:31
officialgspn
Yeah, so couldn't...
00:42:33
Ken Davies
If then if it's not Derby, it's Newcastle and Palace for you, isn't it?
00:42:37
officialgspn
Well, I've got, yeah, there was, okay, fine. So I grew up in the, in, not in the shadow of Selhurst Park, but fairly near. And my dad was a big, big, big, big Palace fan. And my sister's a Palace fan.
00:42:48
officialgspn
So I've got, I've got a good affiliation with Palace. Obviously I've married into Newcastle United. My wife's a big Newcastle fan as are her family. So I do follow them both. And I watch a lot of both of them.
00:43:01
officialgspn
I've got to say Palace again, it's their waveform has been so good this season. I can only i could only go for a draw here. That's the only thing I can do. So I'll do that.
00:43:10
Ken Davies
Fair enough. I've gone for a home win. ah So we've got a we've got a few we agree on and quite a few we disagree on. So there could be a swing taking place this week.
00:43:17
officialgspn
one time It could be. There could be a swing. There could be a swing. Ken likes a bit of swinging, don't you, Ken?
00:43:23
Ken Davies
Only at the weekend, and it's the weekend.
00:43:24
officialgspn
So...
00:43:24
Ken Davies
So, yes.
00:43:27
officialgspn
Happy days. On that note, Ken is swinging. The sun is shining. Thank you very much indeed for joining us. Hope your team does very, very well this week, particularly for Derby County. And we'll see all next week.
00:43:38
Ken Davies
Thank you.